CITY 3 STOKE CITY 0
League Cup 2nd Round 2nd Leg
3rd September 1980
Attendance 21,356
Scorers Henry(10), Bennett(43 & 53)
Ref Gwyn Owen
City MacRae, Ranson, Reid, Booth, Caton, Henry, Bennett, Daley, MacKenzie, Power, Reeves – sub Tueart(unused)
Stoke Fox, Evans, Hampton, Dodd, Thorley, Richardson, Johnson, Chapman, Heath, Bracewell, Maguire – sub Randall(65)
DAVE BENNETT SCORES THE FIRST OF HIS TWO GOALS
FROM THE PRESS BOX
PAUL FITZPATRICK WRITING IN THE GUARDIAN 4TH SEPTEMBER 1980
Manchester City completed the bulk of the hard work in the first leg at the Victoria Ground. Last night at Maine Road whey finished the job with complete conviction, the only blemish on their performance being a missed penalty in the 89th minute. But the spectators, and Stoke for that matter, could not complain about three goals.
Even allowing for the rash of injuries which has beset Stoke, their poorish defence and a lightweight attack. Manchester City’s performance was again highly encouraging for everyone connected with this beleaguered club. There was an accuracy, fluency and Persistence about thelr play which constantly had the home supporters roaring their approval. though the side’s present confidence might be measured more accurately after Saturdays home match with Arsenal.
Malcolm Allisons decision to leave out Tueart was completely vindicated. The Manchester City coach was forced to bring in Bennett at Middlesbrough on Saturday when Tueart dropped out at the last minute. Bennett will now take some shifting. Two goals, it could have been three if he and not Booth had been entrusted with the penalty in the last minute, were the outstanding moments of a delightful exhibition from this balanced, intelligent footballer.
Quality ran through the whole Manchester side from their goalkeeper, MacRae. whose evening was largely undemanding but who still did enough to show that five years in the Central League side have not dulled his ability, to the talented Reeves. Most of the energy was supplied by Daley, having another fine game, and MacKenzie in midfield. and their promptings met with a willing response.
Henry. from the second of two chances provided for him by the irrepressible Bennett opened the scoring after 10 minutes with a neat chip into the far corner of the net. and by half-time the contest was as good as over with Bennett resisting the attentions of a Stoke
defender and ignoring the advance of Fox to score with a firm drive. Manchester’s third goal was slightly fortuitous in that Reid’s drive was meant for goal but found Reeves far out on the right wing, His centre was headed home powerfully from close range by Bennett.
Another bad time for the Stoke defence, in which Evans, Hampton and Dodd had their names taken, ended with the concession of a penalty just before the end when Hampton handled. Here was the ideal opportunity, one imagined, for Bennett to complete a deserved hat-trick but up stepped the veteran Booth to send the ball sailing high over the crossbar.
